Dodgers reportedly discussing Mookie Betts trade with Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox appear to be willing to trade star players this offseason, and the Los Angeles Dodgers are interested in acquiring one of them.

The Dodgers have had preliminary talks with the Red Sox about a potential Mookie Betts trade, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports. LA is still hoping to land star shortstop Francisco Lindor from the Cleveland Indians, but they could view Betts as a backup plan if those talks don’t materialize.

Nightengale notes that the Red Sox are much more willing to trade Betts than the Indians are to trade Lindor, so it’s possible the discussions could heat up in the coming days. The Red Sox are looking to trim payroll to get below the $208 million luxury tax threshold for 2020, and Betts is projected to earn a record arbitration salary of at least $27 million and possibly as much as $30 million.

The Red Sox and Dodgers have a history of making blockbuster trades with one another, as Boston sent Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and Josh Beckett to LA in a massive salary dump deal back in 2012.

Some teams are reportedly “highly skeptical” that the Red Sox will trade Betts, who won the American League MVP Award in 2018. He’s one of the best all-around players in baseball and the type of talent teams like Boston typically build around, but a package that includes top prospects could inspire them to deal him.

In addition to discussing potential Betts deals, the Red Sox have also been shopping starting pitcher David Price to multiple teams. Price’s salary for 2020 is around the same as Betts’ is expected to be. Fans would be far more receptive to a Price trade than a Betts trade, though the return would not be nearly as great.